Article Series #1~ Telehealth After COVID-19

Writer: Shrinidhi

Editor: Moiz

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020, telehealth visits increased by 766% within the first three months. With hospitals overwhelmed, virtual services became an efficient way for Americans to consult physicians and manage pre-existing chronic conditions without leaving their homes.

States like Texas and New Jersey responded by issuing temporary exemptions to allow out-of-state physicians to treat residents virtually. However, once pandemic regulations eased and these exemptions expired in mid-2023, a majority of states reverted to their pre-pandemic rules.

Almost overnight, thousands of telehealth providers were forced to stop seeing patients, even though demand for care remained just as high. This left many individuals either forgoing care altogether or turning to more expensive options, such as traveling to urgent care. The consequences were even more severe for rural communities, where access to healthcare is already limited.

Residents in rural areas face higher risks of death due to factors like longer travel times, increased exposure to environmental hazards, and a shortage of specialist physicians. Telehealth services offer a potential solution by enabling residents to manage their health without traveling long distances, through tools like remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations.

Research from the National Institutes of Health has shown that telehealth use in rural populations can improve patient satisfaction, increase access to care, and reduce travel-related costs. It also benefits physicians, who report better retention, lower staffing demands, and more opportunities for education and training.

However, despite these advantages, barriers still exist. Many rural areas lack access to reliable, high-speed internet, which creates structural challenges to telehealth implementation. Moreover, the time and expense required for physicians to obtain licenses in multiple states make them less likely to offer services across state lines.

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References

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Butzner, M., & Cuffee, Y. (2021). Telehealth interventions and outcomes across rural communities in the United States: Narrative review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(8), e29575. https://doi.org/10.2196/29575

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About rural health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/rural-health/php/about/index.html

Cortelyou‑Ward, K., Atkins, D. N., Noblin, A., Rotarius, T., White, P., & Carey, C. (2020). Navigating the digital divide: Barriers to telehealth in rural areas. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 31(4), 1546–1556. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2020.0116

Weiner, J. P., Bandeian, S., Hatef, E., Lans, D., Liu, A., & Lemke, K. W. (2021). In‑person and telehealth ambulatory contacts and costs in a large US insured cohort before and during the COVID‑19 pandemic. JAMA Network Open, 4(3), e212618. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.2618